Social Justice in Dance/Movement Therapy: Practice, Research and Education

This book presents the potential of dance/movement therapy in prevention, wellness, and healing, particularly in addressing social injustices in international and community settings. Throughout the text, the use of improvisational and creative dance is highlighted as a powerful and effective approach to healing. While the chapters do not directly address social justice in the field of dance/movement therapy, they provide thought-provoking perspectives on the subject.

The editors and authors argue that social justice cannot be fully addressed by focusing solely on the social issues. Rather, they emphasize the importance of understanding how these issues manifest within the individual, the setting, and the therapy process itself. This call for a re-examination of the definition of dance/movement therapy is timely, as the community of dance/movement therapists, educators, supervisors, and human beings grapple with the internalized oppression they have experienced through their various identities and the unique intersections of those identities.

One chapter, titled "'Breaking Free': One Adolescent Woman's Recovery from Dating Violence Through Creative Dance," is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license via link.springer.com. This chapter showcases the transformative potential of dance/movement therapy in addressing personal and social issues, particularly in the context of dating violence.

The book aims to demonstrate the versatility and power of dance/movement therapy in international settings, highlighting its ability to directly counteract social injustices and promote healing. It also explores the potential of dance/movement therapy in prevention and wellness programs within clinical and community-based settings. The editors and authors present a compelling case for a deeper understanding of the social justice implications within the field, challenging the dance/movement therapy community to critically examine their own identities and the ways in which they have internalized oppression.

Overall, this book provides a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of the intersection between dance/movement therapy and social justice, offering a valuable resource for practitioners, educators, and researchers in the field.

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